Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-18

10y hHu Dttn htaftN non. JOun a.
Mason, as president OF tue Cons'ta-
tonal Centennial Commission. assumed
ms place, and, ai,ei hymn had been
rendered 10y the chorus. arose % make
the introductory address Of the day
Alter a hearty round Of applause ne
hogan his remarks, which were punctu-
ated with many demonstrations OF ap-
probation. Mrs. Cleveland sat almost
mfrontof the spelker'sposi.ion, AMI vas
tie cynosurc of al eyes. She was neatly
and handsomely attired in closa-Gt-
ting dress of cream and brown cOlored
plaid silk, anG wore a stylish bonnet Of
dIab color with ribbon trimmings.
Cardinal Gibbons, wearing the car
dinal colors Of bis cxhaltcd Office, sat
at the side OF the speakers, and was
one Of the most attentive listeners OF
DE entire afscmblacc.
1T tie conclusion of Nf kassOn's
address the choiu. cong Appeal 20
Truth. 10y Schiller Moalclssohn. with
beautiful effect st Tie conclusion OF
tie song ey Minister Kaesou escorted
thc President 20 thc speakers rostrum.
end at :J5 O'Clock ho commenced q
ton minutes address, which was re-
cciyod with tromcndou. applause. His
Ounciat.on was clear aud perfect, and
bs voice rang ont auiibly to the thou
sands of cars.
TUE A.DNr
deem it q very great honor and
pleasure to participate in thcse impress
siyc exercises, Ivory American cit,-
zen should On tins centennial day Ee-
joicc ID his citizenship. lie will not
find the c1usc of bis rejoicing in the
antiquity OF hs country. for among tine
nations If the oaItn BIS stands with
tic Youngest Iic viii not find it In
the glitter and poup that heJeck the
monarch and da2zly AFFECT and serviie
subjects. for IN his country tine people
themselves are rulers. lie will not
find it in the story OF bloody foreign
conquest for hIs Government has been
Ccutout to care for its own domain and
people. Ilc should rejoice because the
worl OF framing our Constitution WIS
completed one hundred years ago, and
also because when completed it cstib.
lish,d free government re should
rejoice because tins Constitution AMI
Government have survived solong, ami
also because they have survived with
20 many blessings and demonstrated 50
fully the strength and value of popular
rule He should rejoice IN the won
dIous growth and achievements of the
PAST one hundred years, and also IN
the glorious promise Of the COnstitu-
ton through centuries to come We
shall tail to be duly thankful
for an that was done for ms one han
drcd years ago unless we realize the
Of the work then IN hand
and tie dangers avoided ia the task OF
forming tine more perfect union be-
tween diejoiuted and unharmonious
Stat,s with interests and opinions radi-
caiiv diverse AID stubbornly main
tanned
rhnrrar VolDs.
Tie r0picxitics OF the convention
Which undertook thclahorof preparing
our Constitution are apparent in these
caluost words OF one of the most Has
uious OF It's members The small
Iloercs9 we have made after four orfgc
vCcksof close attendance aud continued
ioasCninls with each other. our different
sentiments OF almost every question
several of the last producing as many
DOCS as ycas-is, methinks, melancholy
proof OF the impariodiou Of human un-
lostaud'uc We. indeed. seem 10 feel
jur own want of political wisdom since
We have been running about in search
IF it. We have gone back to ancient
history for models Of government and
-Xaniuod the different forms those IT,
IUhics which, having been formed with
ocds of their own dissolution. now TO
ougcr exist. I'm this situation of this
.ssembly, groping as it were in the dark
o find political truth and scarce able to
it when presented to us,
low has it happened, sir, that We have
Iot heretofore once thought Of humbly
pplying to the Father of Light to
Illuminate our understanding ?"
Aud this wise man, proposing to
MS fellows that the aid and blessing of
iod should be invoked in their OK
ronity, declared: Il have lived, sir, a
oDg time. and the longer | live the |
more convincing proofs ] see OF the |
ruth that God governs in the affairs of |
len aud If sparrow cannot fail to /
De ground without His notice, is II |
Tobable that an empire can rise with !
nut his aid /? We have been assured, |
j., I'M sacred writings that except !
he Lo1l hu'd the house they iabor |
% vain that build IT, firmly believe
his, and ] also believe that without |
lis corUIiuo We shall succeed in this !
o'ilical buiIUug DO better than the
lldeIsof iapcl We shall Zoe divided
" or liilc partial local interests,
ur projects VII be confouuded.
nd We ourselves shall become r.
roach and lyWord dcWa t. future
oos and what is worse, mankind may
GREATER from thisunfortunate instance
cspair of establishing governments by
uman wisdom and leave 1t to chance,
ar. ana conquest.
I'm the face Of all Encouragement,
ne fathers Of the republic hbored on
" four long weary months in alternate
orc and lear. Int always with rugged
solve never ial'triug N the sturdy en-
ravor saucthed 10y prophetic senseot
le value TO posierity of their success,
I'd always with uniiinchng faith in
.e principles which make the founda-
Oh OF government by people.
THE TtaK IINiSHCp.
At 'ast their task VAS done. Ii is r.
ted that upon tu back OF the CHAIR
.cupitd 10y Washington as president
the convention the 49, was painted,
III that as the delegates were signing
10 completed Constitution one of them
id II have often and often, in the
ursa Of the session and IN sOicitude
my hopes and fears as to its issue,
oked at that behind the President
thout being able to tell whether it
rs rising or setting, but now at length
know that 1t IS rising and not a
ting sun.
We stand to-day on the spot where
is rising sun emerged from political
ght and darkness and in its own
ieht meridian light we mark its glo-
)us way. Clouds have sometimes OBJ
nred its RAYS and dreadful storms